In the past seven years since Mama Shelter opened its first location, its founders, the Trigano family, who also cofounded Club Med, have turned the chain into one of the hippest — and most affordable — hotels in the world, with locations in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Istanbul and Bordeaux. Mama Shelter just opened its first American location in Los Angeles, where a stay will put you just steps away from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Chef Benjamin Bailly, who has worked in the kitchens of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and L’Atelier Robuchon, is behind the kitchen, which will serve everything a mother would feed her kids; healthy, nutritious and delicious food. Thierry Gaugain designed the interiors for the 70-room hotel, and its Coffee Shop will offer Intelligentsia Coffee and Farmshop pastries. In a few months, the hotel will be complete with a rooftop bar, Venice Beach-style fitness center, and a theater. The Manual quizzed its founder, Benjamin Trigano about Mama Shelter and its new Los Angeles location.
Why did you decide to open a Mama Shelter in Los Angeles?
We have a very simple way of selecting cities to host a Mama, we only go to places where we want to live. And in this case, I live in L.A. and I love it.
What kind of vibe are you going for?
The Mama vibe is warm, welcoming caring and loving, everything a Mama is to her children.
Describe your target market.
Really everyone, because a Mama loves all her children equally. We love to have a mix of people staying and hanging out with us. We find the mix to be authentic and sexy.
You tapped Thierry Gaugain to do the interiors of Mama Shelter Hollywood. Why did you select him? What touches did he add to give it more of a Los Angeles feel?
First, he loves L.A. and it was extremely important to find someone who truly connected with the city. Second, he had never done a hotel and we thought he would bring a fresh take on Mama. Third, he is a great friend and we only work with people we like.
What sets Mama Shelter Hollywood apart from other hotels in the area?
Mama is not trying to be cool like a lot of the so-called boutique hotels. Mama is about letting your guard down and having fun.
Do you want its restaurant, café and bar to be a destination for locals too?
We designed the menu to be for locals and it is an intricate part of Mama’s experience. We want Mama Hollywood to become a true destination for Angelinos.
What was the most important thing your grandfather taught you about running a hotel?
He ran his company like he ran his life, it was all about loving people. That’s what Mama is all about.
For more information about MAMA Shelter Hollywood, visit mamashelter.com/Los_Angeles.
